Secondhand shoppers scour flea markets, yard sales, auctions, and thrift stores in two ways. They either shop with wish lists in hand and look for furniture pieces that meet their needs or they look for pieces they love and then find ways to use them. Either way, shoppers have to look past the manufacturers’ intended uses of flea market furniture -- which usually makes for creative and far more interesting interiors.

When you shop for home furnishings, look for ways you can repurpose the flea market furniture you find. Here are some ideas to get you started:

6 Ways to Use a Freestanding Kitchen Cabinet

Depending on your age, you may recall seeing a freestanding cabinet unit in your grandmother's or great-grandmother's kitchen. Many of those cabinets are now for sale at flea markets and antique malls, and you can use them to organize and decorate numerous areas of your home.

7 Ways to Use an Old Lab Table

Residential furniture isn't the only vintage type you can repurpose for your home. Academic pieces, such as the lab tables from an old science classroom, also make striking additions to a residential space.

5 Places to Use a Table Desk

Hotels frequently furnish even modest rooms with table desks to give guests a multi-purpose space for working, eating, or visiting. Table desks are even more versatile in a residential interior. 

4 Ways to Repurpose a China Cabinet

Don't pass on a fabulous antique china cabinet just because you already have one in your dining room.

You can always use it in another space for storing books or displaying your treasures.

6 Ways to Use an Old Rolling Cart

From home bars to craft stations, there are numerous ways to put an old rolling cart to work. And, you can find everything from dainty to industrial versions.

5 Places to Use a Chest of Drawers

If you think a chest of drawers is just a place to stack t-shirts and stash your pajamas, think again. An attractive chest can complement almost any room in your house.